So there's a creator I followed who wanted to start something consistently to keep the creative juice flowing. I say, go right ahead. It's a fun way to keep things going, just like these diaries. The initial goal was 2 weeks, because that's the period where the lockdown was supposed to end, but after our government said that if the cases do not go below 4,000, then the lockdown won't be lifted. So as long as the lockdown is going on, these lockdown diaries are going to keep on coming. Don't you worry, I'm still working on my manuscript, I mainly work on it during my day offs because working days are mentally stressful, I stick to music or comedy skits, strictly no series as I will end up being too invested, especially the new Shaman King anime which looks awesome (The song is great, I'm glad Takei Hiroyuki fought tooth and nail to make sure the original Shaman King cast and crew were involved in the latest remake, because I can't imagine Hayashibara Megumi not being involved, it's almost like not having Utada Hikaru involved in Kingdom Hearts...You get my meaning, right?). Unpopular opinion, I was actually happy with the new Sailor Moon reboot (Haven't watched the latest Dream Arc yet because...you know...Nor rill I finish writing) because they were trying to be faithful to the manga, but a lot of people disliked it. Okay, I get it, because the manga is rather fast-paced, and seeing the new Sailor Moon anime following the manga route is like adapting each chapter into an episode, but I like it. It's an interesting take.
It seemed like someone opened the floodgates, because guess what came without stopping: Covid admissions. There's so many that I feel like mentally throwing up. There were so many complicated cases that we didn't have enough hands on deck. I feel like literally waving a white flag because for the love of God, we're trying our best to sort out the cases one by one, there's only two of us, and there's so much we can take. When we don't get back to people on time, people start shaking the whole building. Just so you know, there's four, five phones ringing at the same time, there's only so much we can take, oh, and we're full, yet people still make demands to take them in. When I clerk their cases and they ended up being severe, I have to direct them to the government sector, but then they go: "I DON'T WANT THE GOVERNMENT SECTOR, THE SERVICE IS TERRIBLE! AND I DON'T SPEAK BAHASA!"
Speaking of that, let me tell you a little something. I am always treated as a black sheep in my own community. Simply, because I'm not exactly your typical Malaysian Chinese... I always get looked down on because the first language I speak is English, second Bahasa Malaysia, I don't really speak Mandarin, in fact, most people thought I was a banana... It's because in real life, I have gotten in a lot of trouble whenever I speak Mandarin, I do mean...a lot. It made me mentally sick to the point where I don't really speak Mandarin unless it's necessary. In fact, the only time I ever speak Mandarin is with close friends whom I have known for many years or when I'm forced to, usually with elderly folks. Even till this point, I still get, "Oh, you're Chinese? Why don't you speak Mandarin?" You do realize we're in Malaysia right? I'll admit, when we're outside, it's either English or Bahasa Malaysia first...Even going to my local kopitiam, I don't speak really good Cantonese, but I can hold my own...broken Cantonese and Japanese (I haven't spoken the language for a long time, but I can speak basic, broken Japanese - I try to watch Japanese anime/ dramas without subtitles to see how much I could understand...) I guess...I used to be hurt that people treated me like the oddball out, but I got used to it, and I couldn't be bothered anymore. When people found out I wrote books in English, most of the things I get was: "You're Chinese, and you don't write in Chinese? Why do you write in English?" Seriously, it's so draining that I don't really engage much anymore. Besides, as I have mentioned several times, when you are doing anything official, you need to go to the government offices, where most of the people converse in Bahasa Malaysia. Like it or not, you do need to be able to converse in basic Bahasa.
Sorry for that rant, back to the topic, let's clear this up. Government sector and private sector are more or less the same treatment wise, I went to government sector before, it's actually more or less the same, maybe better, depending on what you go for. I'll admit, the government sector is usually the no-nonsense type, and the queue can be really scary, but you pay as little as a dollar for a treatment that can cost nearly a hundred, and they do a more or less good job. I mentioned it several times, if I do not have health insurance, I would never go to private sector, it's expensive, and most people can't afford paying cash upfront... Not unless you're really rolling with money...And I don't really use my health insurance much because I try to save it for a rainy day... I have seen people's insurance bounce and situations become dire that they end up in bad debt...I know, I know, money is king, if you have it, you don't have much worry, but for us who do not have that privilege, we do what we can to survive... People tend to brag that they have insurance, but when it comes to covid admission, you really are going to need cash on hand because most insurance do not cover... Sorry, but it's true...
But - but, the customers are always right! Yes, within reasons, but when people tend to demand unrealistic expectations (Eg. No more covid rooms yet demand for covid beds), that is when we have to put our foot down. Nothing is more scary than having your hopes crushed to bits.
Lord, you know what, the creator I look up to is right. We're already halfway into the year and yet people are still stuck in that same mindset. Please, no more vaccine shopping, stop being nitpicky, if you can't afford private, just please consider the government sector, yes, the place is not exactly the St Regis, but the treatment is more or less on par to the private sector. You only have one life, don't waste it. And if you got our vaccination date, just go for it. Please, stop asking what vaccines are going to be given. You're getting vaccinated, and that's what counts.
*Today's case: 6,658 (Where's a black hole when you need one?)
